Education for All in Africa

The majority of African countries are at serious risk of not achieving Education for All by 2015, aaccording to the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2003/04. Despite commitment to international treaties and declarations by most of its countries, all education indicators are below world and developing country averages. Most children, more often girls, are still deprived of the right to education.

Following the World Education Forum held in Dakar in 2000, the international community has reaffirmed its commitment to support African initiatives and efforts to achieve Education for All goals and the education objectives of the Millennium Development Goals.

The Fast Track Initiative (FTI) is considered a major breakthrough in this respect. Launched in April 2002 by the World Bank and its partners, it is a funding scheme to assist low-income countries in providing full primary school completion by 2015.

So far six African countries that fulfill two principal criteria – commitment to poverty reduction and a sound education sector plan – will receive FTI funding. This is the case of Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Mozambique and Niger.

Check out which African countries have a high chance for achieving the three Education for All goals of universal primary education, adult literacy and gender equality by 2015. More